Starting to worry about the future?

[PanamaGixxer]

I am in a tough position and it will get tougher at the beginning of the year. I am building a new house and will need to make a choice between cable and satelite. For me, I think satelite has a better HD system than most cable suppliers - just my experience with Qwest and Time Warner. But, I would take TIVO over DirectTV if the MRV was enabled. Sadly, I will probably get stuck with a decision too soon to stay with TIVO. I still have my fingers crossed that TIVO will come through before the beginning of the year - It will be a different world without my 4 TIVOs (would probably by 4 S3s to replace them).

I know, go ahead and say good bye or its my choice, just wish I did not need to make a choice.

[slimoli]

If you have a choice, go with Dishnetwork. More HD channels , good DVR (622). Not a Tivo, but better than any cable DVR. Directv has the worst picture, less HD channels and the new DVR sucks compared to TIVO. Cable is a lottery, some are very good and many are crap. The combo cable/S3 is probably the most expensive one but can be the best choice if cost is no subject.

Sergio

[PanamaGixxer]

Thanks for the reply - I have not really started the search on my options - just wish TIVO was working with Dish or DirectTV. Love the TIVO interface and MRV. But, if I can't get the MRV with the S3, I will go with a cheaper/better picture quality option - I will look into DISH.

[timdorr]

Well, how are you going to handle your Internet connection? Bundling your net connection with cable could end up saving you more in the long run. Cable is normally going to be your fastest option with the best $/Mbit ratio.

Most of the HD channels on Dish are filler, in my opinion. Check to see what HD channels you'll get with cable and see if there are any you'll be missing out on. I'd base the decision on what you'll be watching, not stuff you'll not be turning on anyways.

Another consideration would be upgradability. You'll be able to add an eSATA drive in the (hopefully near) future in the Series3. You can also do a drive swap to expand the base capacity right now. This is probably not likely to be possible with the Dish DVR options.

There are also secondary features on the Tivo you might not have considered. There's KidZone, which is great for parents and should be on the S3 soon enough. I love Tivo Suggestions, since I tend to stay up late and there's never anything on around then. There's also stuff like the network connectivity and other features. These could push you towards a Tivo.

[PanamaGixxer]

Originally Posted by timdorr

Well, how are you going to handle your Internet connection? Bundling your net connection with cable could end up saving you more in the long run. Cable is normally going to be your fastest option with the best $/Mbit ratio.

I will go with a cable modem, but the $5 - $10 savings a month for the combined packages is not really that much savings. I pay around $165 a month for internet and cable.

Most of the HD channels on Dish are filler, in my opinion. Check to see what HD channels you'll get with cable and see if there are any you'll be missing out on. I'd base the decision on what you'll be watching, not stuff you'll not be turning on anyways.

I hear you, I will check as my decision time-line approaches. I don't know much about Dish, a friend has DirectTV with the NFL package (NFL package is cool). My past experience with cable channels is more promises than they can fullfill - pixelation is my biggest concern. I currently get that with Qwest HD channels and had that with Time Warner HD.

Another consideration would be upgradability. You'll be able to add an eSATA drive in the (hopefully near) future in the Series3. You can also do a drive swap to expand the base capacity right now. This is probably not likely to be possible with the Dish DVR options.

I hear you again, but this is all speculation at this point in time. If I even knew TIVO would start MRV in 1 year, I would go with TIVO - just no way to know? 4x$800=$3,200 a lot of money for potential MRV.

There are also secondary features on the Tivo you might not have considered. There's KidZone, which is great for parents and should be on the S3 soon enough. I love Tivo Suggestions, since I tend to stay up late and there's never anything on around then. There's also stuff like the network connectivity and other features. These could push you towards a Tivo.

No Kids and always turn off the suggestions - we have 4 TIVOs - 1 for each of the major networks and an extra for FOX and misc. other stuff. We have a crap load of TV to watch as it is - probably too much

[Jerry_K]

TiVo = WAF = Happy Hubby.

[Stanley Rohner]

The new DIRECTV DVR doesn't suck.

DIRECTV doesn't have the worst picture quality.

[HiDefGator]

Late next year DirecTV is going to be the undisputed leader in HD channels. They expect to be able to support over 150 national HD channels in addition to HD locals. No cable company is expecting to have anywhere near that capacity any time soon. Nor is Dish. If you can get FIOS then it might be in the same league as DirecTV.

[HomieG]

Originally Posted by Stanley Rohner

DIRECTV doesn't have the worst picture quality.

You're right. But they are pretty darn close to that.

[Stanley Rohner]

Originally Posted by HiDefGator

Late next year DirecTV is going to be the undisputed leader in HD channels. They expect to be able to support over 150 national HD channels in addition to HD locals. No cable company is expecting to have anywhere near that capacity any time soon. Nor is Dish. If you can get FIOS then it might be in the same league as DirecTV.

I'm pretty sure the 150 HD channels they are talking about are referring to the HD locals. Do you really think they'll be 150 HD channels available for DIRECTV to add to it's line up ?

I wonder what that HDTV programming package would cost us?

[Stanley Rohner]

Originally Posted by HomieG

You're right. But they are pretty darn close to that.

Yeah, sure, whatever you say HomieG.

Worst picture quality, tons of subscribers.

[johnh123]

Originally Posted by Stanley Rohner

I'm pretty sure the 150 HD channels they are talking about are referring to the HD locals. Do you really think they'll be 150 HD channels available for DIRECTV to add to it's line up ?

I wonder what that HDTV programming package would cost us?

Also, I wonder if they will stop with the hd-lite when they will have so much capacity?

[JohnBrowning]

Originally Posted by PanamaGixxer

I am in a tough position and it will get tougher at the beginning of the year. I am building a new house and will need to make a choice between cable and satelite.

Do you really need to make a choice in advance?? I'd pre-wire the house for all possibilities and give myself flexibility for the future.

[AbMagFab]

Originally Posted by Stanley Rohner

The new DIRECTV DVR doesn't suck.

DIRECTV doesn't have the worst picture quality.

The DirecTV DVR is pretty bad for the general user. Super techies can get used to it, but it's no Tivo. That being said, most cable DVR's are pretty bad as well, so DirecTV is now just one of the bunch.

And DirecTV's picture quality is very near the bottom of the heap. Most urban cable companies have far better pictures overall, on SD and HD, are fully digital, and the HD is full HD, with more HD and SD channels.

DirecTV has made almost no progress over the past 5+ years, while cable companies and FiOS have made huge progress. DirecTV is now in the bottom 10% in terms of features and quality, absolutely. Only a DirecTV shill would disagree, or someone who hasn't compared.

That being said, there are numerous rural areas where DirecTV might still be a better option in terms of quality, channels, and features. But that target audience is narrowing quickly.

[raygundan]

I just dumped DirecTV after about four years for Comcast-- and there isn't much contest between the two on picture quality. Comcast wins hands down. DirecTV has been shoehorning too many channels into too little bandwidth, and it shows.

I made the switch solely for the HD tivo-- I honestly didn't expect better SD quality.

[ashu]

On a BAD day my Adelphia cable (HD and digital SD) is marginally better than Dish and substantially better than DTV.

On good days, I don't compare them in the same paragraph

I've made direct comparions between the cble-equivalent of my OTA HD channels with the OTAs, and it's nearly impossible to spot a difference. And from having a Moto 6412 DVR that can spit out HD over Firewire to a PC< I know Adelphia(Comcast) is being VERY generous with the bandwidth for the HD streams

And sorry Stan, DTV DOES have the worst quality.

Originally Posted by johnh123

Also, I wonder if they will stop with the hd-lite when they will have so much capacity?

Umm, the HD-Lite is the REASON they finally have capacity to add channels

[Leo_N]

Originally Posted by ashu

On a BAD day my Adelphia cable (HD and digital SD) is marginally better than Dish and substantially better than Cable.

On good days, I don't compare them in the same paragraph

I've made direct comparions between the cble-equivalent of my OTA HD channels with the OTAs, and it's nearly impossible to spot a difference. And from having a Moto 6412 DVR that can spit out HD over Firewire to a PC< I know Adelphia(Comcast) is being VERY generous with the bandwidth for the HD streams

And sorry Stan, DTV DOES have the worst quality.


Umm, the HD-Lite is the REASON they finally have capacity to add channels

Ashu, think you might want to edit the last word in your first sentence

[gastrof]

Originally Posted by ashu

On a BAD day my Adelphia cable (HD and digital SD) is marginally better than Dish and substantially better than Cable...

Your cable is better than cable?

[ashu]

Originally Posted by gastrof

Your cable is better than cable?

Originally Posted by Leo-n

Ashu, think you might want to edit the last word in your first sentence

Stop misquoting me, folks!


thanks!

[PanamaGixxer]

Originally Posted by JohnBrowning

Do you really need to make a choice in advance?? I'd pre-wire the house for all possibilities and give myself flexibility for the future.

To a point, I have a company coming in and doing all the wiring - cable (HD to all rooms for distributed HD), distributed audio, security and phone. They are implementing a Control4 system and I will need to decide what type of HD so that they can program everything. I think the distributed audio and distributed video to 5 rooms will be cool - also, love the idea of all the TVs being mounted on the wall with no wires/boxes anywhere - plus one remote operating everything. Hope it gets close to my expectations!

[ashu]

Originally Posted by PanamaGixxer

To a point, I have a company coming in and doing all the wiring - cable (HD to all rooms for distributed HD), distributed audio, security and phone. They are implementing a Control4 system and I will need to decide what type of HD so that they can program everything. I think the distributed audio and distributed video to 5 rooms will be cool - also, love the idea of all the TVs being mounted on the wall with no wires/boxes anywhere - plus one remote operating everything. Hope it gets close to my expectations!

Wait .... not CAT-6 for homewide Gigabit ethernet? Seems like a massive oversight to me

[HDTiVo]

Originally Posted by PanamaGixxer

I am in a tough position and it will get tougher at the beginning of the year. I am building a new house and will need to make a choice between cable and satelite.

Why do you need to make this choice?

[AbMagFab]

I have both, at least until I see how much I can trust cable. So far, it's pretty darn good, and way better than Satellite.

[vstone]

I would have the wire folk run a bunch of stuff while the walls are open in addition to whatever this Control4 system is. At least 2 RG-6 coaxs and ethernet to every place where a TV or audio system will be, and possible multiple wallls in some rooms. Maybe fiber optic as well. This will allow you to easily change things in the future. There is a company that makes cables that enclose 2 RG-6's and two Ethernet cables in one shroud. Don't remember if its CAT-6 or CAT-5e,

[Rucker]

Smarthome [dot] com has a half dozen bundled wire selections.

[CraigHB]

I just got my first HD TV (37" LCD) and man, the picture is it wonderful with my upconverting DVD player, however...

I've been with D* for a few years now and mainly switched to them from cable for the integrated TiVo they offered at the time.

I think people may be right about over-compression and stuffing too many channels into the bandwidth. The picture I'm getting from my standard definition DirecTiVo is horrible. It has distorted pixels around image edges. It's especially noticable when there's print on the screen. The distortion looks to me like compression artifacts. I never noticed it with the old tube TV because the picture was a lot smaller. I know it's not the TV because the picture looks fine when, as a test, I run off the DVD player over composite in 480i mode. Normally I run the DVD player over HDMI in 1080i mode.

Now that D* no longer offers TiVo, I'm much less inclined to stay with them especially after discovering how poor their SDTV looks on a big screen. They're not all bad though. I've read their HD DVR is actually pretty decent. Also, switching to their HD DVR would end up being way-way cheaper up-front and monthly than going back to cable and using an S3. I imagine their HD DVR wouldn't suffer the PQ issue I'm having with their standard definition DirecTiVo. I guess it's a case of "you get what you pay for." The question is, "Do I shell out the bucks for the quality?"

To answer the OP, I say go for cable and S3 in lieu of satellite, especially if cost is not a factor.

[ashu]

Craig why do you think the DTV HD DVR wouldn't suffer the SD quality issues like your TiVo DTV DVR? They both record the exact same digital stream with no (further!) compression.

The problem lies with the source/provider!

[CraigHB]

My DirecTiVo is standard definition and outputs a standard 480i signal over composite to the TV. The HR20 can be set to output an "upconverted" 1080i signal over HDMI or component. I believe the S3 can upconvert as well. This is what my DVD player does and I get a fantastic picture out of it. I can only assume (hope) I would get the same results from a similar tuner. However, If I'm seeing compression artifacts resulting from the broadcast, it may not matter. In that case, I would have to switch to cable to get rid of it.

[jfh3]

Originally Posted by AbMagFab

And DirecTV's picture quality is very near the bottom of the heap. Most urban cable companies have far better pictures overall, on SD and HD, are fully digital, and the HD is full HD, with more HD and SD channels.

Never realized how true that was until I did a comparison between the same station on my DirecTV feed (HR10-250) and Comcast digital (Series 3).

[optivity]

Originally Posted by PanamaGixxer

I am in a tough position and it will get tougher at the beginning of the year. I am building a new house and will need to make a choice between cable and satelite.

What about FiOS?